Acetylene-gas generator.



Patented Sept. 5, i899. W. M. CLARK.

ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

(Application led Oct. 11, 1898.)

(No Model.)

llNrrED STATES vWILLIAM MORTIMER CLARK PATENT EEicE.

, or BAYONNE, NEw JERSEY.

ACETYLENE-GAS GENERATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Iietters Patent No. 632,511, datedSeptember 5, 1899.

Application led October 11,1898. Serial No. 693,202. (No model.)

T0 all whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM MOETIMER CLARK, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Bayonne, in the county of Hudson, in the State ofNew Jersey, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement Relatingto Acetylene Gas, of which the following is a specification.

My improvement applies to that class in which the apparatus contains alarge quantity of water, with provisions for introducing the carbidthereto according as the gas is consumed.

My invention consists in certain novel features connected with theautomatic feeding of the carbid to the generating-tank.

It also involves important improvements in the apparatus.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specication and representwhat I consider the best means of carrying out the invention.

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional elevation of an acetylene-gas generatorembodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a detached View showing inperspective the ribbed wheel, inclined plane, and cert-ain contiguousparts relating to the carbid-feeding devices. Fig. 3 is a fragmentaryview of a portion of the hopper side, illustrating the provisions forthe introduction and removal of the carbid-feed wheel 5 and Fig. 4 is adetached View showing a transverse section through the loose and fastpulleys of the carbid-feeding devices and the tight and loose positionsof the flexible band or strap carried by said loose pulley forintermittently overlapping and frictionally turning the fast pulley toeffect the feed.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all thefigures where they appear.

A is the main case, an upright cylindrical vessel of sheet metal havinga bottom, but open at the top, and A is a smaller casing mountedconcentrically within, open both at the top and bottom. The annularspace -between the bottom of the casing A and the main casing A istightly stopped with a bottom A2, which is a frustum of a cone.

A3 is a narrow casing extending up and down on the exterior of the maincasingA and having an inclined bottom A4, extending inward through anaperture a in the side of A, which performs important functions.

- A suitable bell B is introduced, rising and sinking in the annularspace provided between the casings A and A', which space is partiallyfilled with water a: to form a seal, so that this bell may serve theordinary functions of a gas holder, delivering the gas through a pipe C,which descends in the interior to a point below the lowest position ofthe bell and thence is led out through the casing A and supplies the gasto the burners. (Not shown.)

I provide means to be described farther on for supplying the carbid ininstalments of about equal quantities. The frequency of the supply ofthese instalments of carbid is made to depend on the rate of consumptionof the gas. If the carbid is prepared in a certain way, it will notgenerate the gas on its rst introduction to the water, but only after ithas been in the water for an interval of a secon d, more or less, afterwhich interval the reaction between the water and the carbid willproceed, as usual, and generate the gas. These instalments of carbid arethrown down in the casing A2 and are deiected inward by the inclinedsurface A4. By the time the water has overcome the defensive coating thegrains of carbid of various sizes have descended and been thus deflectedinward and allowed to sink. The gas being generated at that point andrising upward is certain not to move outward through the aperture a, butto rise up within the vessel and be accumulated under the bell B.

D is a cord or chain attached to the center of the top of the bell B andleading upward over a pulley (not shown) and laterally and obliquelyaway. At a point suficiently beyond said pulley to allow sufficientchain for the extreme rising and sinking of the bell it is joined to abroad flexible band or strap D' `of thin sheet-brass, which is coiledpartly around a pulley G', fixed on a shaft G, supported in fixedbearings and carrying a peculiar longitudinally-ribbed feed-wheel G2,which, equipped with fingers G3, receives and IOO measures the carbid.The latter is allowed to descend thereto on a movable inclined plane I,capable of vibrating up and down on the fixed center I'. To this tiltingplane I the carbid is liberallyT supplied from a hopper A5. The severalridges of this ribbed wheel are of triangular section, inclined asshown. Iwill call the several spaces between them pockets7 The movableincline I by dropping into the several pockets g as they are presentedserves as a pawl to prevent any backward turning of such wheel and alsoto lead the carbid along its inclined surface from the hopper A5 intothe pockets g as they are presented successively. The thin metallicstrap D' takes hold of the fast pulley G' only frictionally by embracingit tightly when it is pulled by the descent of the bell B. W'hen thetension on this strap is relaxed by the rising of the bell, its elasticnature causes it to release its hold on the pulley G', so that it may beagain wound upon such pulley without imparting any reverse motionthereto. This is effected by the aid of a loose pulley H, mounted on thesame shaft G and having a diameter nearly or quite equal to that of thefixed pulley G'. The end of the strap D' is riveted or otherwisepermanently secured to the loose pulley. This loose pulley carries aloaded lever H', the gravity of which tends to turn it in the directionto wind up the strap. When the strap D' is pulled and unwound, it notonly turns the loose pulley and elevates the weighted lever H', but alsotakes hold frictionally on the periphery of the xed pulley G' and turnsthe latter, and thereby correspondingly turns the ribbed wheel G2. Everymovement of the bell B downward turns the shaft G,and consequently theribbed wheel, a corresponding portion of a revolution, and every ascentof the bell allows the strap D' to move idly around in the properdirection to take a fresh hold. The action differs from an ordinary pawlin the fact that every movement of the bell downward, however small,results in a turning movement of the ribbed wheel, and every movement ofthe bell upward, however small, results in conditioning the parts forthe next corresponding movement.

A5 is a chamber leading obliquely d'ownward from the hopper A5 into theoutside casing A5. The ribbed wheel G2 is iuclosed loosely within thischamber A5. Each rising movement of the bell B slackens the strap D' andallows the loose pulley H to be turned. Each descending movement of thebell results in turning the loose pulley I'I and also the fast pulley G'in the proper direction to give a forward motion to the ribbed wheel G2,and consequently to transfer the carbid which is inr the several pocketstoward the delivery-point. It is desirable that the bell shall makeapproximately uniform movements upward and downward snciently extensiveto turn the ribbed wheel G2 so much as will cause one or more of thepockets g to empty at each descent. My construction promotes this; butit is not necessary to the success of my invention that the motion ofthe bell shall be large or uniform. \Vhenth'e bell makes very slightmovements by reason of the supply of gas rising from the water differingbut little and for only a brief period from the rate of consumption, thechain D, and consequently the strap D', will move so little that theloose pulley H will turn but slightly, if at all; but with very ordinaryskill in the construction and adjust induce the latter step. The mode bywhich these ngers contribute to the reception of the carbid will now bemore fully explained.

The lower edge of the movable inclined plane I is equipped with deepnotches t', arranged each to receive and allow the passage of a fingerwhen it is presented thereto. The inclined position and the shaking ofthe plate I having induced an approximately uniform spreading of theloose material along its upper surface a movement downward a little ateach of the jolting motions which it receives by the successive desoentsof the lower edge is certain to present more or less of the carbid sonear the edge that it will be ready to slide olf, and it will fall intothe pocket as the further slow revolution of the wheel G2 presents moreand more of the pocket to receive it. lVhile this condition obtains therise of the next series of pins G3 through their respective notches t'serves in a manner analogous to the teeth of a rake in moving forwardthe loose particles which are sufficiently near the edge, leaving themore distant ones unaffected. These notches t' are preferably so deepthat the fingers will never touch the inclined plate I, leaving theliftingof the latter to be effected entirely by the ridges G4. When thusproportioned, the sole functions of the fingers, which may be commonnails carefully set in the correct positions, is t o promote thereception of on approximately uniform quantityof the carbid when thepocket in advance passes the receiving-point and to aid in retaining thecarbid in the pocket behind it at the delivery period. My experimentsindicate that it is easy to hold the small lumps and loose particles ofthe carbid by these pockets, aided by the fingers, so that but littleshall be scattered in advance and to discharge the whole whenthe pockethas attained a certain amount of inclination.

I maintain a gentle tension on thecha-in D and strap D' by means of a'slight weight D2, attached to the chain in the position repre IOO IIOV

sented. In practice I prefer to so adjust the parts that the motion ofthe bellB shall usually be excessive, the irregularities being taken upby the varying amounts of slack in the chain at certain periods betweenthe weight D2 and the bell.

To provide for the convenient introduction and removal of the ribbedwheel G2 to and from the hopper A5, I make in one side of the same acircular opening of a diameter adequate for the lateral introduction ofthe ribbed wheel. The external portion of the shaft G between the hopperand the pulleys G' H turns in a bearing-recess j' therefor in a slotj inthe plate J, which slides horizontally in upper and lower guideways A13A11 on the side of the hopper, the closing movement of the plate beinglimited by a stop A15, while a perforation in the plate is arranged to'register with a similar opening in the hopperside when the parts are inposition for receiving a fastening-pin P to positively retain the partsin position.

I provide for washing and filtering the gas.

Vithin the interior of the inner casing A' is a horizontal floor-plateA7, on which rests a few inches depth of water y, supplied through apipe AS from an elevated tank A9. K is a cock through which this watermaybe drained off when required, and L is a cock by which the properlevel may be determined in the filling.

A11 is a large bent pipe leading up through the floor-plate A7 anddelivering the gas upward through a valve N below the level of thewatery. The gas is produced at a sufficiently higher pressure than thatat which it is required to be consumed, so that it can bubble up throughthis water and be washed.

A11 is a higher floor-plate which need be only approximately tight. Theaperture in the middle is covered by a series of sponges M, kept inplace by a slight inclosing casing A12. These Sponges filter out all thesolid particles.

C' is a safety-valve in a branch C2, adapted to relieve the pipe C frompressure, if such should be engendered in the machine at any time. Thepipe C2 may deliver through the roof of the building.

The upper edge of the casingAisdelected outward at one point tofacilitate the introduction of the water fr. The side of the outsidecase A3 is equipped with a funnel Att, leading upward from an orice to apoint above the water-line, to allow the introduction of the water a,which fills the lower portion of the casing A and which by its chemicalreaction with the successive instalments of carbid produces the gas. Iprovide a liberal aperture a' with means for closing it, throughwhichthe more or less impure water .2' and any sediment may bedischarged from the bottom of the casing at intervals.

I eect the preparation of the carbid by thoroughly coating it by dippingin a suitable oil. I prefer the lubricating-oil produced by refiningpetroleum, which is known in the trade sometimes as paraffinoil,but moreproperly as spindle-oil No. 25. No 2li may serve. I do not lind that theresult is materially affected by an excess; but I prefer that the carbidbe drained of all its surplus oil before being placed in the hopper A5.

I claim as my inventionl. In apparatus for the manufacture of acetylenegas, the combination with the main case A having a carbid-supply openinga, of the smaller inner casing A', open at both ends, a bottom A2,closing the space between said case and casing, a horizontal partitionwithin the casing A', having a seal A10, communicating at one endbeneath said partition and discharging at the other above the same, amovable bell inclosing the casing A' and a suitable gas-discharge,substantially as herein specified.

2. In apparatus for the manufacture of acetylene gas, the combinationwith the main case A having a carbid-supply opening ce, of the smallerinner casing A' open at both ends, a bottom A2, closing the spacebetween said case and casing, a lower horizontal partition within thecasing having a seal A10, communicating at one end beneath saidpartition, and discharging at the other end above the same, an upperpartition also within the casing having a lter-passage, a movable belland a suitable gas-discharge, substantially as herein specied.

3. In apparatus for the manufacture of acet= ylene gas, the combinationwith the tank A, a bell operating within said tank as described,

IOO

a carbid-hopper communicating with said tank and having a carbid-feeddevice, fast and loose pulleys G', H, the latter operating the feeddevice a strap D' connected with the bell to be reciprocated by themovements thereof and connected to the loose pulley to only turn thefast pulley when traction is exerted on said strap, all arranged forjoint operation substantially as herein specified.

4C. In apparatus for the manufacture of acetylene gas, the combinationwith the tank A, a bell operating within said tank as described, ahopper communicating with said tank and containing a ribbed wheel G2,connections with the bell for intermittently rotating the wheel G2, andmovable incline I, also within the hopper supplying carbid to thewheelpockets and acting as a pawl to prevent any retrograde movement,substantially as herein specified.

5. In apparatus for the manufacture of acetylene gas, the combinationwith the tank A, the bell B, operating within said tank, the latterhaving the carbid-induction opening a, of the broad strap D reciprocatedthereby, the loose pulley II oscillated by such strap, the fast pulleyG' turned step by step by the friction of the`strap due to suchreciprocations and a hopper communicating with the tank IIO andcontaining a device operated by the latl In testimony that I claim theinvention tei' pulley for delivering carbid to the tank above set forthI affix my signature in pres'- ro together with the outer easing A3,mein casence of twowitnesses.

in01 A hztvin`Op the hole a, inner Casin01 A anl v nilar botten; A2 andprovisions for wvgashing, XVILLIAM MORTIMER CLARK' ltering andconducting away the gas, all arlVitnesses: ranged for joint operationsubstantially as v M. F. BOYLE, herein specified. v J. B. CLAUTICE;

